PM wants multi-pronged strategy to counter terror
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday reiterated the government’s resolve to fight terrorism and extremism, and said a multi-pronged strategy was being evolved to confront the issue effectively. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan was currently facing challenges of food and energy crises, but the government was determined to confront these on warfooting for which various initiatives had already been taken.
Talking to the US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson at PM House, the Prime Minister said Pakistan was consistently fighting terrorism and sacrificed a lot in this regard including the assassination of its leader Benazir Bhutto. Gilani said the government would pursue both long and short term initiatives which include political, socio-economic and administrative measures to address the issue.
The Prime Minister said economic empowerment of the people in FATA was the key to counter extremism in the area.
He expressed the confidence that initiatives would help increase economic activities in the area as well as create opportunities to improve the living standard of people. He said terrorism should be addressed on the same lines as it was adopted in eradicating the poppy cultivation through appropriate economic incentives.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan accords high priority to its strategic relationship with the US and was keen to further expand its relations in various fields.
Pakistan, he added, was also eager to enhance cooperation in the fields of education, health, energy, science and technology.
Referring to his telephonic conversation with US President George W. Bush, the Prime Minister said it was an encouraging interaction and he was looking forward to meet the President during his expected visit to United States. He reiterated his government’s commitment to take all possible measures to resolve the problems of people and come up to their expectations. The US Ambassador appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in curtailing extremism and terrorism, and expressed the desire for developing a stable and multi-faceted relationship with Pakistan.
She assured complete support of the US administration to the new government and expressed confidence that democracy would lead Pakistan towards progress and prosperity. She said the US administration would be pleased to work with the new government and extend all possible assistance for the economic development as well as substantiating Pakistan’s efforts in confronting the crises of food and energy shortage.
She also reaffirmed US government’s invitation to the Prime Minister to visit the US at his convenience. “It is part of our 100 days programme to provide one million housing units to the government employees when they retire from service,” he added.
The Prime Minister said the provincial governments would also start implementing the programme. Replying to another question on tourism, the prime minister said the 2005 earthquake badly affected the tourism industry in the country.
The other reason, he added, was law and order situation which deteriorated in the past in tourist potential areas. He said tourism flourishes if the law and order were under control. Prime Minister Gilani said under the tourism policy not only the facilities in tourist areas would be improved but the government will also ensure the restoration of law and order. He said in areas like Swat, Kaghan and lake Saiful Malook, infrastructure and tourist facilities were badly damaged by the devastating 2005 earthquake.
He expressed the hope that once the infrastructure and facilities in these areas are fully restored, the flow of tourists will also improve significantly.
He said in areas like Swat, Kaghan and lake Saiful Malook, infrastructure and tourist facilities were badly damaged by the devastating 2005 earthquake. He expressed the hope that once the infrastructure and facilities in these areas are fully restored, the flow of tourists will also improve significantly.